Hogwarts had always been confusing, even for those who spent their lives within it, but for most first year students navigating its vast corridors was nothing short of a nightmare. This was again the case as Jonathan Duncan made a wrong turn on his way to Transfiguration that morning, ending up in the abandoned classroom next door. It was well known that the first class on Monday's was not one to be late for. With his eyes wide at the thought of having to face the stern professor and explain his tardiness, Jonathan slipped through the door and turned to shut it quietly behind him. Taking a deep breath, hoping he looked braver than he felt, he turned around.
His heart stopped and a silent scream came from his parted lips as he came face to face with the largest rat he could imagine. The beast could have rivaled a house cat in size, and it sat atop an empty cabinet, his jaws opening and snapping shut as its beady eyes stared down at him. As the light from the walls torches danced off the creatures fangs Jonathan found his voice, and his screams echoed off the walls as he ran though the door and back to his dormitory. Of course he never saw the rat shift into something indefinable and find its way back into the open desk drawer a few feet away. He never knew that the not so simple rat would be the cause of so much misery.
Everything had been going so well. Minerva had managed to have two full cups of coffee before Severus even appeared for breakfast that morning, and her forth year students were actually progressing ahead of her expectations, so she had been kind enough to let them out of homework for the day. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so popular. She should have known better than to think it would last.
It was only five minutes into her final class before lunch. She had managed to put the sixth year Gryffindors with Hufflepuffs this year, so the number of spontaneous duels had decreased, and the quality of their work also seemed to improve. Minerva looked around the room once more, watching the students diligently copy down the notes from the board before making her way back to the desk in the front of the room. She smiled, running her fingers lightly across the top. It was the same desk Albus had used when he was her professor. She remembered the cause for every nick and ding in the deep cherry wood, and she wouldn't change a thing, even if she could. Her fingers came to rest against a faded scorch mark along the edge and she couldn't help the small giggle the memory brought up, even if it did earn her a few stray looks. It had been their first kiss.
She had returned to the school five years after graduation to finish work for her Transfiguration mistress title, and Albus had been gracious enough to offer himself as a mentor. She had always been his favorite student, and it didn't take long for them to fall back into their habit of easy chatter and playful barbs. It took even less time, within the span of their first breaths, for the undeniable fire to engulf them again. It had been hard to ignore the butterflies and tension in those last months of her schooling, but nothing could have come of it then, and each assumed nothing ever would. Minerva had never been so happy to be wrong.
He had been correcting essays on that very desk one evening and had again missed dinner. Knowing how wrapped up he could become, Minerva grabbed a candle and a plate of turkey sandwiches and headed for the classroom. "Albus, you need to eat," she chided gently when she found him. He looked up from his stack of papers and smiled, a small smear of red ink on the tip of his nose.
"I suppose so my dear, but only if you agree to join me." She perched herself on the edge of his desk and pushed the plate in his direction. "I suppose that could be arranged."
They talked about everything but work; it was never hard for them to find a topic and their debates were already becoming things of legend among the staff. They had just moved onto MacBeth when the classroom door burst open and a tidal wave flew at them accompanied by a very distinctive cackle. Reacting completely on instinct Albus had wrapped himself around Minerva, trying to protect her against the onslaught. Dripping wet, Albus looked more like a wet cat than a great wizard. "I really must speak to the Bloody Baron in the morning," he muttered. It wasn't until Minerva's breath hitched that he looked down and felt his heartbeat double.
Their faces were scant centimeters apart. He could feel her warm breath along his neck, and he was very much aware of everyplace that their bodies touched. They never could agree on just who made the first move, but in the end, does it really matter. Their lips met in a ferocious kiss that stoked the always present fire whenever they were together. They became so wrapped up in the feeling of the other that neither noticed when the still lit candle tipped over, catching the essays on fire. They jumped apart as a flame licked Minerva's back, and by the time the flames had been extinguished, they were both doubled over with laughter and his essays beyond repair.
Minerva was rudely brought back to the present when, again, the door burst open. Instead of water this time, however, a dozen dung bombs flew through the air and landed square in the middle of the class. Before she even had a chance to react, the students were stampeding for the nearest exit and she was forced to follow them out into the corridor. Slamming the door behind her, even the gagging students backed away at the look of sheer murder on her face. "PEEVES! I swear you had better hope I don't run into the Bloody Baron. Of the all irresponsible, ridiculous,.." she would have gone on, but the poltergeist simply stuck out his tongue and dropped through the floor.
She turned back to her students, all of whom were looking at her as if she had grown not only a second head but horns as well. "Class dismissed; I want a foot essay on the precautions taken during human transformations. Pay special attention to the cases presented in your text." With that last word the students scattered to the four winds, and Minerva was left standing alone in the corridor. She knew it would take Argus all day to clear out her room, and she still had one more class after lunch. Luckily, there was a spare room next door that was used for storage now. It would take some quick work, but although she couldn't remember a time the room had ever been used, it would have to do. Pulling out her wand, and expecting to work through lunch, Minerva pushed open the creaking door and came face to face with none other than Albus Dumbledore.